Snakebitten: A Real-Time MP FOF thread

[QuikSand]

RAVENS SLIP TO 9-7, HIT THE WILD CARD ROAD


Meh season overall, it seems... but with the WC basically no harm


GML: Baltimore Ravens 2131


Lyle just not good enough to merit keeping/paying him, change looms
Running game was surprisingly good (Naranjo 5.25, McFarlane 5.48)
Passing game shrink-wrapped around two guys held up okay around 7 ypt
Low-RR WR Bridges was surprisingly effective in very specific roles - hmmmmm


Pass rush was top third at 22.2 PR% ranking 9th... okay with that
Run D was mid-pack, a shade better than usual maybe? W/L matters there
S Garcia had monster season: 122 tackles, 15 PDs !, good coverage

We were nearly +4 in points per game... that's a better team than 9-7 tbh



A -21 turnover margin is just wayyyyy too much to overcome





Meh, a lost season. We won't be good enough to go deep in the postseason. Sucks.

[QuikSand]

WTF? WFT GOES 12-4, EARNS BYE WEEK

GML: Washington Football Team 2131


Didn't see this coming, exactly... let's peek, were we actually really good?


QB Osborne was basically replacement level, 7.12 34/24 84.5 meh
RB mix was wrong (my fault) but both Elliott and Bush were solid
WR Marshall steps into WR1 job and does... okay 7.2 ypt 1130-6
The TE position remains a black hole...2nd round rookie got cut, we post 5 ypt there


Pass rush was in my usual range... top ten with 22.4% (7th)
PD% was 3rd in league at 72.3 - that sounds like a good story
NT Carlisle with huge year playing pure NT... 10.5 sacks, whoa
S Rasmussen (48/48) remains a stud ballhawk, 10 picks this year = HAWAI'I
LB Kinney had quiet great year playing more conventional cover LB role


Turnovers only +1 but a non trainwreck seems to be enough with a slightly above average team at most of the fundamentals. Are we a real threat to Ben's Falcons, again looming atop the totem pole? Doubtful. But they overachieved, again, that's a good thing.

[QuikSand]

Interesting side item... I have not detailed it as much as I once did, but I still invest in special teams more than the average bear, and surely way more than the average AI manager.


Check out this guy's history as a punt returner:


Jalen Snyder


Career summary:
PR with WFT (across two stints): 148-2,812 yds, 19.0 avg, 3 TD
PR elsewhere (across two teams): 313-2,789 yds, 8.9 avg, 2 TD


All those guys we grab and keep around at TE3 and LB5 and S4 have to be the difference, right? I feel like this is very redeeming.


He's pissed off about playing time, now, so he might take a walk... but it's good to know he's not just a wizard at this, rather he's the straw that stirs an already potent drink, so to speak.

[QuikSand]

...follow up note on the PR Snyder. Might be worth noting that on the other teams he played for, he was getting pretty involved with the offense, not exactly a starter, but as a 40+ target guy most seasons.

Seems at least possible that his exemplary performance as a PR when with WAS has also been at least partially attributable to him having a special teams only role with us. (ILR terms alert) He was well rested when called on to go out and return three or four punts, not winded from being out there in the slot for a bunch of plays. Perhaps?

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

RAVENS SLIP TO 9-7, HIT THE WILD CARD ROAD

...stuff...

Meh, a lost season. We won't be good enough to go deep in the postseason. Sucks.

hmmmmmmm

[QuikSand]

Funny thing happened...

GML POSTSEASON RECAP

GAME RESULTS
Wild Card Round	BOX		Baltimore Ravens (QuikSand)	23-16	Miami Dolphins (crusher78)		LOG
Wild Card Round	BOX		Chicago Bears (AVAILABLE)	34-24	Minnesota Vikings (johnnyshaka)		LOG
Wild Card Round	BOX		Indianapolis Colts (SBLemstrom)	20-23	Denver Broncos (jstraub80)		LOG
Wild Card Round	BOX		St. Louis Rams (AVAILABLE)	19-7	Arizona Cardinals (SteveOliver)		LOG
Divisional Round	BOX		Baltimore Ravens (QuikSand)	30-23	Cleveland Browns (Scrooge)		LOG
Divisional Round	BOX		Chicago Bears (AVAILABLE)	9-30	Atlanta Falcons (Ben E Lou)		LOG
Divisional Round	BOX		Denver Broncos (jstraub80)	21-31	Houston Texans (MattC)		LOG
Divisional Round	BOX		St. Louis Rams (AVAILABLE)	27-23	Washington Football Team (KickStand)		LOG
Conference Round	BOX		Baltimore Ravens (QuikSand)	42-17	Houston Texans (MattC)		LOG
Conference Round	BOX		St. Louis Rams (AVAILABLE)	9-24	Atlanta Falcons (Ben E Lou)		LOG

The GM Challenge Bowl Result
Front Office Bowl	BOX		Atlanta Falcons (Ben E Lou)	21-28	Baltimore Ravens (QuikSand)		LOG

[Chas in Cinti]

!!!!!

Maybe you need to get disinterested more often?

[QuikSand]

I mean... It is truly weird. Running these two teams together for, whatever it's been, 10 seasons? I have managed to grab two league championships, and that number isn't shocking. We have fielded a fair number of bye-week teams, so over time you'd expect we wear the crown here or there. But BOTH titles came in freak playoff runs after unimpressive regular season results. One for each team. It's just odd that my power teams faded out, and my meh teams twice ran the table.

[Pyser]

january magic. congrats!

[QuikSand]

thanks, man, someone had to break your streak i guess

[QuikSand]

Oooooooooooooooookay. The show must go on, eh? I suppose so. Ravens basically have to play in "maintain mode" and try to run it back. Basically no choice. We locked up multiple fat contracts last season, that worked out fine, but it left me fully unable to compete for a top-shelf WR inexplicably left out in free agency this season, one who would even be a chemistry fit for us...ugh. I've got a max offer of $75m (this only after making one major cost-saving move), and there's no way I'm risking the loss of TE Palmer, who has finally brought my TE job back to respectability here, and he's going to take nearly $30m of that. So - it will be a lean year for spending, I suspect. So... FA stage 2 won't be quite as thrilling as it sometimes is. We'll console ourselves gazing at the no-longer-empty trophy case.

[QuikSand]

So, paragraph breaks no longer work here? Is that it?

[QuikSand]

Washington has suffered some real losses this offseason, and it might actually matter. Our initial draft pick with the team, C Fitzgerald, has retired - that leaves us with a grumpy backup thrust into the starting job, and a legit hole on the interior OL. I have been willing to spend major draft capital on the OL here, and may be pushed to do so again here. We also lost some favorites - my no-skill FB Hackney and S Reese, both of whom were great for cohesion and special teams. Some rebuilding along the fringes there, but a drop at C portends bad things for the running game IMO. We have some legit cap space, so this team can be pretty active. And...is it maybe time for a QB change in DC? Stay tuned.

[QuikSand]

Both teams try to trade out of our late first round picks, both fail, both make selections that fail to spark joy.

[Pyser]

It’s an awful draft

[QuikSand]

So, had an internet outage for a day, messed things up in other leagues but not here.

Ravens TE Palmer turned down a fat offer, but he'll get paid, he's got leverage. Designated coverage LB Evans is also a holdout, and he's on thinner ice. (Though I am falling truly madly deeply in love with that role, though I reckon I'm kinda late in doing so)

Ravens draft summary here:

32

BAL

QuikSand

2(32) LDT Kim Dotson 28/55 1(32) RDT Grant Edwards 31/54 4(32) LG Roman Duran 26/46 5(32) MLB Asher Sellers 13/40

2(32) LDT Kim Dotson 28/55 1(32) RDT Grant Edwards 31/54 4(32) LG Roman Duran 26/46 5(32) MLB Asher Sellers 13/40

32nd of 32... cool, cool. What do I see? Yeah, pretty weak stuff overall. I had a couple later-round guys I liked, none look exciting now. Okay then. Situation normal all feathered up.

[QuikSand]

Speaking of coverage linebackers... WAS almost reached for Figurelle in round one, but got him in round two and am quite pleased with the way he shapes up right away - I think he's a steal and the main reason we ended up ranked mid-pack:

15

WAS

KickStand

1(27) RDE Gabriel Andrews 40/59 2(27) SILB Sammy Figurelle 43/46 3(27) RDT Wendell Rudzinski 27/40 4(27) RT Otis Morton 25/43 5(27) RB Pat Shipway 29/38 7(27) P Shane Hughes 44/54 6(27) LDT Dixon Quinn 23/44

1(27) RDE Gabriel Andrews 40/59 2(27) SILB Sammy Figurelle 43/46 3(27) RDT Wendell Rudzinski 27/40 4(27) RT Otis Morton 25/43 5(27) RB Pat Shipway 29/38 7(27) P Shane Hughes 44/54 6(27) LDT Dixon Quinn 23/44

65.3

[QuikSand]

At the training camp stage, I reverse course, cut a couple no-bonus guys, and make rook to re-up with LB Russell Evans. That near-100 zone coverage rating is really rare at LB, and I decide he's too important there to do without. 25 passes defensed in his two years with us... I think I'm sold.

[QuikSand]

Well, files are in for the regular season. Staying with our incumbents at QB on both teams, but both are in play next season.

Predictions:

Ravens 9-7 AND ANOTHER BOSS TITLE RUN

WTF/WFT 10-6 and an early out in the opening round of the playoffs

[QuikSand]

RAVENS ROLL TO 13 WINS, BYE WEEK

GML: Baltimore Ravens 2132

Fun season, and we're #2 behind... Houston?!? Could be fun.

QB Lyle delivers another good season - 4647 on 7.58, 41/20, 94.6
(fun side note, Lyle now has a W/L record of 116-58, dead on 2/3)
RB "The Big Orange" Naranjo takes the lion's share w 1229-7 on 4.49 ypc meh
WRs Pearson an Webster deliver: 1344-11 on 8.05 and 1015-10 on 9.06
TE position was meh again... Palmer 5.73, Buckley 6.19 oh no
Offense good overall, though: 4th in ypc, 3rd in ypa - that's strong

Pass rush kinda weak, only 20.2% 19th - not happy there
No prolific pass rusher seasons - LB Sanderson with 8 sacks, meh
Seven guys with 9+ PDs, that's great - was a key to the defense
S Gallagher with 7 picks will get top billing, but good overall
But overall D was strong too: 5th in ypc, 9th in ypa

Anyway... fundamentals were really strong, that's a legit 13 win team
We have a beef with Houston, maybe we can go dash his dreams

[QuikSand]

WFT DELIVERS DIVISION AT 10-6, HEADS TO WILD CARD WEEK

GML: Washington Football Team 2132

Now, we'll see a decent team and its underlying stats... less thrilling
QB Osborne was fully mediocre, he's got to go 3967 6.46 27/22 75.3
FA pickup WR Rivers led the way with 1034-7 on 6.71 (wtf)
Our supposed star WR only got 104 targets for 787-4
Big money TE England delivered our usual garbage with 5.24 ypt
Overall offense: 4.12 ypc (18th), 6.47 ypa (14th)

Soph DE hatch led the pass rush with 9 sacks, but team 22.1 meh
Jesus what's even worth reporting here? DBs played fairly well
Overall defense: 4.32 ypc (21st), 6.25 ypa (16th)

Well, this is a 7-9 team that managed to win 10 games somehow

[QuikSand]

maybe the most noteworthy guy on the WFT roster this year was our plug-in center:

http://gml.fof-belco.com/playercard.php?playerid=102092

transaction log tells the story... he was a guy we liked a bit, got him "starts" for chem, let him go when he wanted money, re-signed him cheap, and then had to press him into service this year when another guy faded badly in preseason

i was worried about him giving up a ton of sacks, even being hidden at C... for the season only 1 sack allowed, though... not bad

now... our running game fell apart, and dropping from a top-tier C to a guy like this likely has a lot to do with that, but still... no sacks!

[QuikSand]

Welp...

GML POSTSEASON RECAP

GAME RESULTS
Wild Card Round	BOX		Chicago Bears (AVAILABLE)	16-22	Washington Football Team (KickStand)		LOG
Wild Card Round	BOX		Cleveland Browns (Scrooge)	16-14	Denver Broncos (jstraub80)		LOG
Wild Card Round	BOX		Miami Dolphins (crusher78)	15-26	New England Patriots (pyser)		LOG
Wild Card Round	BOX		Philadelphia Eagles (Jeremiah)	27-41	Detroit Lions (matrix)		LOG
Divisional Round	BOX		Cleveland Browns (Scrooge)	24-20	Houston Texans (MattC)		LOG
Divisional Round	BOX		Detroit Lions (matrix)	31-41	Atlanta Falcons (Ben E Lou)		LOG
Divisional Round	BOX		New England Patriots (pyser)	13-48	Baltimore Ravens (QuikSand)		LOG
Divisional Round	BOX		Washington Football Team (KickStand)	16-44	San Francisco 49ers (Juggernaut)		LOG
Conference Round	BOX		Atlanta Falcons (Ben E Lou)	34-37	San Francisco 49ers (Juggernaut)		LOG
Conference Round	BOX		Cleveland Browns (Scrooge)	47-23	Baltimore Ravens (QuikSand)		LOG

The GM Challenge Bowl Result
Front Office Bowl	BOX		San Francisco 49ers (Juggernaut)	19-27	Cleveland Browns (Scrooge)		LOG

[QuikSand]

Scrooge ruins my holiday. Lovely.

[QuikSand]

Trivial update here... doing the FA 1:2 files for both teams. I clearly messed something up with the WFT lineup, and my depth chart got scrambled. It happens, but it sucks to lose out on a year of chemistry for guys who were supposed to get starts last year. Whatevs.

[QuikSand]

Opening round of free agency, Ravens go wild spending... against almost no competition and we overpay badly. I congratulate myself openly when I read the market correctly... here, I whiffed and it will cost us in cap space.

	Baltimore Ravens	QuikSand	SE James Bridges	2 years, $34,000,000 (Bonus: $20.0M. Salary: $7.0M, $7.0M.)	41	41
	Baltimore Ravens	QuikSand	LT T.J. Caver	3 years, $138,000,000 (Bonus: $105.0M. Salary: $11.0M, $11.0M, $11.0M.)	67	67
	Baltimore Ravens	QuikSand	RCB Mario Grassia	5 years, $179,000,000 (Bonus: $134.0M. Salary: $9.0M, $9.0M, $9.0M, $9.0M, $9.0M.)	55	55
	Baltimore Ravens	QuikSand	SE Norbert Hartwig	3 years, $40,800,000 (Bonus: $30K. Salary: $13.6M, $13.6M, $13.6M.)	45	45
	Baltimore Ravens	QuikSand	RCB Keegan Jaynes	3 years, $177,000,000 (Bonus: $150.0M. Salary: $9.0M, $9.0M, $9.0M.)	69	69
	Baltimore Ravens	QuikSand	FL Christopher Webster	2 years, $72,000,000 (Bonus: $56.0M. Salary: $8.0M, $8.0M.)	58	5

[QuikSand]

...the immediate fallout of this absurd spending spree is that we have almost no path to re-signing QB Lyle this year. He wants $55m/yr, and we show a max offer of -$10.2m. Ain't happening.


We do swing a draft trade:


JAX sends: 2.6

BAL sends: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.29



...so we will have fewer must-sign rookies this year, which should help. But we'll be looking to squeeze here and there, it's unhealthy but so it goes.

[QuikSand]

Not exactly sparking joy with either pick here, but if we're going to get mediocrity, it might as well be at positions we need, right?




Washington: KickStand takes WR Andrew Botte with the 1.25 pick.

Avoid Drops		71<->100
Getting Downfield		59<->89
Route Running		68<->97
Third Down Catching		71<->100
Big-Play Receiving		3<->33
Courage		59<->89
Adjust to Ball		54<->83
Punt Returning		0<->29
Kick Returning		0<->29
Endurance		71<->100
Special Teams		69<->98

HT	WT	RAW	ADJ	DASH	SOL	BENCH	AGI	BRJU	POS	%DEV
70	189	4.9	5.1	4.51	22	14	7.00	103	63	21

Baltimore: QuikSand takes WR Matt Douglas with the 1.29 pick.

Avoid Drops		44<->73
Getting Downfield		39<->68
Route Running		63<->93
Third Down Catching		39<->68
Big-Play Receiving		42<->72
Courage		0<->29
Adjust to Ball		38<->68
Punt Returning		0<->29
Kick Returning		0<->29
Endurance		63<->92
Special Teams		59<->89

HT	WT	RAW	ADJ	DASH	SOL	BENCH	AGI	BRJU	POS	%DEV
70	188	4.6	4.8	-	28	-	-	-	50	28

[QuikSand]

Ravens do a couple cap-outs, and make one inexplicable signing (w no bonus, whew) and are back to a max offer of... $40,000. We will accept hoboes and sex offenders, I repeat, we WILL ACCEPT.

[QuikSand]

WTF/WFT signed a stealth cheap contender to start at QB this year...

Washington Football Team

KickStand

QB Garrett Alexander

2 years, $11,000,000 (Bonus: $20K. Salary: $5.5M, $5.5M.)

35

38

[QuikSand]

Free agency continues, nothing too exciting to note. Ravens' cash bonanza right out of the gate continues to cause problems everywhere - we basically just signed one more expensive player than we should have.

A few options on the table, still weighing options on another big cap-out to clear space this year... reluctant to harm our options next year.

[QuikSand]

busy day, just getting to the league... nothing exciting here

[Chas in Cinti]

Still keeping up... looking forward to the next update...

[QuikSand]

thanks, man

[QuikSand]

Ricky chem move for the Ravens... my expensive bird-in-hand chem leader at WR/TE was fine, but too costly for this tight a cap setup. So we cut him, hoping we'd land a younger guy who would take the lead.

It worked. Minsal TE with 78 special teams (good enough these days) in place, as TE3 and group leader for a while. 86 personality is... enough for now.


Draft is over, as is early free agency, so where are we? 51 players under contract, two rookies, and $3m in cap space. Not a lot of room to breathe. But no holdouts, at least.

We need a long snapper, and will splash around a bit in the inexpensive end of the pool. The very shallow end, that is.

That's fine. New QB this year, so it might be a bumpy ride, might as well plug in some young'ns and reload a bit.

[QuikSand]

Oh nothing to see here... just humdrum roster moves...

QB Josh Greer	FA Stage 10	signed as a free agent: 2yrs, $7,040,000.
RCB Steven Parker	Late FA Stage 1	signed a renegotiated contract: 2yrs, $23,350,000.
LDE Cole Rambo	Late FA Stage 1	released
QB Austin Lyle	Late FA Stage 1	re-signed as an unrestricted free agent
RB Rob Hasch	Late FA Stage 1	turned down a contract offer: 2yrs, $5,300,000.
TE Silas Wappler	Late FA Stage 2	re-signed as an unrestricted free agent
TE Darnell Spradlin	Late FA Stage 2	signed as an unrestricted free agent from Miami: 2yrs, $7,100,000.
RDE Bart Andrews	Late FA Stage 2	re-signed as an unrestricted free agent
LS Roger Newhart	Late FA Stage 2	signed as a free agent: 2yrs, $5,760,000.
RB Miles McFarlane	Late FA Stage 3	re-signed as an unrestricted free agent
FB Corwin Hutton	Late FA Stage 3	turned down a contract offer: 1yrs, $2,410,000.
LS Chase Nichols	Late FA Stage 3	signed as a free agent: 1yrs, $3,300,000.
LS Gary Boling	Late FA Stage 3	signed as a free agent: 1yrs, $2,800,000.

Wait...was that QB Austin Lyle re-signing for a one year why-the-fuck-not deal?

[QuikSand]

These Ravens are just not going to get enough pass rush, I fear. We'll be counting on two second year players in the outside DE positions a lot, both have promise, but both look like they develop into DE2/DE3 caliber guys, not stars. LB Sanderson will likely be pressed into more pass rushing duty than I'd prefer, out of necessity. I fear we will be bottom half in pressure, and that usually means my defense is failing. I'm worried.

[Olsson]

I really enjoy following this thread. Regularly Reading.

Maybe I should join a MP League again!

Thanks for the effort QS!

[QuikSand]

many thanks, glad to hear it still has some value... it's been a while since I really did a deep dive, maybe this weekend (both teams look like they're approaching a QB transition, that might be time for a deeper roster rundown or somesuch)

[QuikSand]

Ravens file is in for the regular season. Not really convinced that Lyle is the best QB on the roster, but... coming off two great seasons, it's impossible to turn down the chance to just run it back. Both the rookie WR and RG will get a shot to play a lot. DB additions make that group look pretty fearsome again, I'm pleased there.

I'll predict we manage 11-5, which might not win the division, but would surpass the mental/historical 2/3 threshold and be at least okay.

[QuikSand]

cool cool, i prepared a file for the WFT and then opening up FOF I see that I never submitted it... so that team likely got totally junked by the AI

might be the offramp i actually needed there, tbh

[QuikSand]

Browser won’t even let me access FOFC now, just phone.

Geez cosmos I get the hint already.

[QuikSand]

[QuikSand]

Oh for fucks sake

[QuikSand]

GML: Baltimore Ravens 2133


GML: Washington Football Team 2133

[MIJB#19]

That must have been very frustrating.

Edit: wow, it doesn't even show the empty post that I tried to quote.

[QuikSand]

Well, the Ravens manage a nice playoff run, losing to Scrooge's Browns in the AFC Championship, gotta be pleased with that even at the cost of draft capital.

Ben wins the title. He's on fire. Shocking, I know.

Will have a good look at the WFT situation and decide whether I just cut bait there. I'm nearly overwhelmed by real life right now, timing would be good. I can't remember the last time I actually quit a FOF league.

[QuikSand]

Flipping through the WFT situation now. I don't think I have it in me to just quit. So, I'll try to make some lemonade here.

When I dropped the ball it cost the team a good deal of its infrastructure. The AI cut a couple chem leaders, and the no-talent guy anchoring my OL chemistry retired, understandably. I have a few guys exposed to free agency who wouldn't have been had I submitted their contract extensions.

But, to be honest... it isn't awful. The team was at a QB crossroads anyhow. The AI didn't start the guy I had been starting... but I had planned to cut him in that file anyway. My former RB leader got cut and... seemingly vanished (his page doesn't say retired, but i cannot find him in the game, so I guess he just got "disappeared" Pinochet style for crimes against the state or something).

Anyway....work to do. We have pick 1.7 and why not, I'll try to get an impact player there and see what we can do around him. Yeah, we've heard that old sea shanty even before it became trendy.

[QuikSand]

...I do note that our entire RB/(FB) group on the WFT roster is in its final contract season. So, making a chem change would be very easy here...like, in the event we felt the need to install a new QB for this team, and wanted there to be some supporting infrastructure for him Quik-style. We could basically build to suit.

There is a rookie QB who looks... weird... he's a guy I think I'd take a stab at with pick 1.2y but probably not 1.7. Maybe this is a trade-down and youth-movement sort of season for us? Ugh, building through the draft is typically the worst way to do it, for me.

[QuikSand]

WFT goes non-impact position, non-affinty, BPA by taking a DB with pick 1.7 because I don't even know why I was busy. He looks really good.